• Source:JND
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 Ministry of Civil Aviation's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) issued show-cause notices to IndiGo and Mumbai Airport on Tuesday after a video of passengers eating on the tarmac at Mumbai Airport went viral on social media. In response to the notice, IndiGo issued a press statement and said that they already initiated an internal enquiry to address the issue an soon will respond to the notice. 

MoCA's step came after Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia held a meeting with all ministry officials at midnight yesterday. Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked for replies by 16.1.2024 over the issued notices and warned of enforcement action including financial penalty if replies are not received in the given time.

"IndiGo is in receipt of a show cause notice from MoCA's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) with regard to flight 6E 2195 from Goa to Delhi, diverted to Mumbai on January 14, 2024. IndiGo has already initiated an internal enquiry to address the issue and will be responding to the notice as per protocol," IndiGo's statement read.

IndiGo and Mumbai airports faced the ire of people after a video went viral showing passengers sitting unfazed on the tarmac as the Indigo flight from Goa to Delhi was diverted to Mumbai. Following the incident, the airline on Monday issued a statement and apologised to the customers, assuring them that it would take necessary steps to avoid any such instances in the future.

In a viral video, passengers of an IndiGo Goa-Delhi flight, which was diverted to Mumbai (confirmed by airport sources) due to operational issues, were seen eating and sitting on the airport tarmac at Mumbai Airport.

Referring to this, Indigo Airline said in an official statement, "We are aware of the incident involving IndiGo flight 6E2195 from Goa to Delhi on January 14, 2024. The flight was diverted to Mumbai due to low visibility conditions in Delhi. We sincerely apologise to our customers and we are currently looking into the incident. We will take the necessary steps to avoid any such instances in the future."

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport also stated in connection to the incident and said that the passengers were kept under the strict watch of the airline authorities and security until further actions were taken.

"Indigo 6E 2195 (Goa to Delhi) was diverted due to unfavourable weather conditions. As the flight was already significantly delayed in Goa, passengers were irate and rushed out of the aircraft as soon as the step ladder was connected. The airport operators, in coordination with CISF QRT, cordoned off the passengers into a safety zone as passengers refused to get into the airline coach and proceed to the terminal building. Passengers were kept under the strict watch of the airline authorities and security until further action was taken," it said.

(With Agency Inputs)